Slicing machine



Aug. 29, 1933. w. A. VAN BERKEL SLICING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1930 I I: .I... E. Ill-Ill ium. fl

, Patented Aug. 29, 1933' J i p 1,924,666 I i ,SLICING MACHINE Wilhelinus 'lhlria nus van Berkel, "Clarens, Switl zerl and, assi'gnor to U. S. Slicing Machine Company, La Porte, Ind., a corporation of "Indiana Application January 18,

. and in Germany F ruar 21,119.29 J I, 18 claims] (01. 1465103)" In meat slicing machines provided with'an oscillating arm for'theknife, it has been pro posed to mount the bearings vfor the rocker arm in a yoke whichextends' above and transversely 5 tothe merchandise to. be sliced and which also bridges the'clamping. plate so :as t o produce a strong construction of'th'e' machine. This con; struction, however, has the disadvantage that it impairs the accessibility to the clamping mech anism of the table. 1

One object of this invention, therefore'is to 1 provide a slicing machine table which will" elimi nate the aforesaid disadvantage/ This i'sacc'omplished by providing a slicing machine table which to the cutting plane of the knife and another position remote therefrom andclear of the'frame of the machine to'a sufficient extent to permit the substance to be placedon the table and to 1 be'clamped thereon. L

Another object of this invention is to provide aligning means for the table which will automatically determine the position'which the substance to be sliced is to occupy on the slicing tablewhen flthe slicing table'is moved to theposition adjacent the cutting plane of the knife.

A more specific object of this invention-is to provide an abutment plate which is automatically positioned in a predetermined positionrelative to the slicingtable whenthe slicing table is 'at 'a position remotefrom the cutting plane of the knife; This abutment plate automatically is moved to an inoperative position when the slicing table is'moved intopositionadjacent the cutting plane of theiknife. i i; I Another object of this invention i s'the provi sion of a pivoted abutment plate whichiis automatically moved into a predeterminedpbsition relative to the slicing machine table as the table plane of the knife to a position remo'te the'refrom. A more specific object of this invention is 'to provide" an abutment plate which auto'matic'ally assumes the same relation'to the slicing machine that theslicing knife'occu'pies relatively'to" the table when the latter is in its "operative position adjacent the cutting plane of the. knife This face thereof'adapted to be arranged substantially. at right angles'to the supporting surface of the slicing machinetab le." Thisvsurface occupies sub-.

stantially the same relative position to the slicing J position that the adj acent surface. of the slicing has a position of "adjustment? in clos'eyproximity is moved from a position adja'cent the cutting table while the latter is' in inoperative position means c'omprises'an abutment'plate having a surmachine table while the table is'at an inoperative knife loccu'pies to the supporting surfaceof the table .when the table is atits operative position. ,JOther objects of the invention will appear hereset forth in the appended cl'aims. p 1,

In the drawing 'e i ina'fter, the novelfeatures and combination being Fig.1 is. afragmentary view partially in verticalsectioniofl a machine vembodyingmy invention a Fi'gQZ isa s'ection taken'substantially along the line:2-2 of Fig. 1; and l i Fig. 3 is a view of-the essential parts ofmymachine as viewed from the left in Fig.

The slicing machine comprises a frame having the base member, 1 provided'with theupstanding flanges 2 on opposite, sides thereof. These flangestend .to bracejthe upstanding portions 3 whichextendI-upwardlii from thebasegl and? alsotend to bracethe'bridgej section 4 which ex -y tends between theupstanding portions 3;-:,This arrangement;provides' aivery rigid frame-jstructure for supporting the slicing machine knife.)

The'slicing machineknife is rotatably mounted on the end of an arm 6,1 the arm 6 being pivoted to a shaft 7; journaled in a suitable bearing in'the 'bridge4. Thefshaft '7 also has an internalgear m .rigidly 'connected thereto This gear is driven by the pinion 9 onthe rotorishaftzof the motor, 10.

The motor ,10 is pivotedat 1'1 and has an arm 12 integral with or. rigidly connected to' the bracket which supportslthe' motor and a spring within the housing '13 normally urges the motor Fina clockwisev directionlabout its pivot 11, thus insuring that the teeth on the pinion9 and gear; 8 will always remain in driving relation with-each other. The shaft 7 also has a sprocket 14' rigidly connected thereto? and archainl5is turned over thi'ssprocket and over a, sprocket -16 rigidly se- 5' about its axis, but no movement will beimparted to the arm 6 due totherotationiof the shaft 7 in view'ofgthe factthat the arm GJis freely rotatable "on the shaft 7.= However, it isnecessary to pro,

videmeans fo riactuating the arm 6 van'd'for this cured to the'spindle 17 of the slicing machine; 1 knife 5, thus it will be seenvthat when" the motor lo is'rotated the same tends to rotate the knife purpose; providea handle l8'on anextension of the arm 6. "Whenit is desired to slice substances it is onlynecessaryto move thearmfi by means of the-handle 18 about the shaft :7, the oscillations of the arm 6 effecting a feedingmovement of the feature is well known in the art to-which thisinventionpertains.v

feed table for the substancejbeing sliced through v ,7 suitable feeding mechanism,.not shown,; a s this Onithe'frameof tiieliaac hme -ahd Between the 9 j ting plane of the knife as the .substanceis sliced.

ing cylindrical lugs 24 on the extreme outer ends thereof. The cylindrical lugs 24 are guided with:

in the hollow guide'rod 19 so as to permit the table to bereciprocatedor moved longitudinally of the guide rods from the full lineposition, shown I in Fig. 1, to thedotted line "position shown in that figure. i

The under table 22 is provided with a feed table 50 diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1 and guided in any suitable manner on the-upper surface 'of the table 22 as by the guides 58 in a direction toward and from the cuttingplane of the knife The feed table isprovided with a feed nut f51 engaging the threads on a -feed screw- 52 provided with-a ratchet wheel 53-. The feed screw being rotatably mounted iniixed bearings on the side of the feed table'22-andadapted to be actuated by suitable' mechanism when the substance table is at its operative, position adjacent the cutting plane of the knife. Such ameans is shown in my coJ-pending application Serial No. 421,623, filed January 18, 1930. .The: feed table is also provided with. uprights 55 carrying a "clamping bar 56 which: may be of anyrdesired construction.-.-The substance to. be sliced is indicated at 5.7 and is clamped by means of the clamping bar ag'ains'tfthe. feedplate 50; When the substance-is placed on the table 22 and'feed -table'5O and clamped asillustratedin'Fig. -1 with the forward edge'ofthe substance against the gauge-plate 32, it is obvious that when thetable 22 is moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 the substance will have its uforward edge in the cutting plane of the knife so that the very first slice 'which is out by the knife will be of proper thickness. It is understood that the feeding mechanism advances the feed table 5.0 with'a step-by-step movement toward the out.-

"When the table is in the dotted line position, shown in Fig. 1, the substance supported thereon is in a position ready to be sliced and after each slice is cut therefrom by the knife 5, the substance is-advanced by means of the feeding mechanism into a position such that the next stroke of the knife 5-will sever an additional slice from the substance. Considerable difliculty has been experienced in positioning the substance. on the table *22 while in its operative position. due to, thefact that 'the'flan'ges 2 interfere with theproper manipulation of the clamping. members or member for the material to be sliced, therefore, I propose to mov'ethe' table 22 .to the inoperative. position shown in full line in Figs. -1 and 2, so' that the table 22 is clear of the flanges 2 and the substance may be readilyiclamped on the table by mea of the-clamping mechanism..

. When the table is-moved'to theinoperative position justdescribed it is-neceSsary: to :provide means for properly positioning the substance on V the slicing table, so that when the table is moved 15f Also ifth'e forward edge of the substance to be sliced is positioned on the table in such a position that thefsame will come in abutting relation with the inner surface of th'eknife, when the table is moved to its operativeposition, the next suc ceeding stroke of the knife will cut a slice from the substance of theproper thickness and will not out a slicewhich is too thick .or too thin and also'the cutting operation will start immediately instead of necessitating a few strokes of the knife as is necessary if the substance is positioned too far to the rear of the slicing machine table. In order to accomplish properly the position of the sub-- stance on they table 22 I provide a'positioning means which I will now proceed to describe.

It will be notedupon inspection of Fig. 2 that the flanges 2 are each provided with bosses .25.

Each of these bosses carries a shaft 26 secured thereto by means of a pin 27. One of these shafts 26 carries an arm 28 which has a laterally extending lug 29 adapted to engage the stop 30 on the 32 to be movedfrom the. full line'position shown i in Fig.1 to the dotted line position shown therein.

It'will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 1 that when the table isbrought back to the inoperative 'position'shown in full lines the stop '30strikes the lug 29 and rotates the arms 28 and .31 in a;counterclockwise "direction from the dotted line. posiioo tion to thefull line position and thereby positions the platev 32st substantially rightangles to the supporting'surface of the table 22. Adjusting screws 33 are providedin each of the arms 28 and 31 adjacent. the forward ends thereof and these adjusting screws are adapted .to engage the laterally extending portions 34 at the'forward edge of the table and by means of these screws I am ableto adjust the position whichzthe plate 32. will occupy relativeto thesupporting surface of the table 22. I prefer to adjust theinner surface or surface adjacent. the table in the same posit on.

relative-tothe table. that the cutting-plane of i knife 5 occupies relative to thetable when the table isin operative position. -Therefore, if the substance is placed on the table 22 with the forward edge thereof in abutting relation to the sur- I face of the plate 32 andthe substance clamped on the table '22, while the substance is in this position, the forward edge of the substance being sliced will be in the cutting plane of'theknife when the table is moved to operative position.

Any suitable means may be providedffor limitingithe forward movement of the'table, that is a movement into the operative position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Therearward movement is limited by engagement of thestop 30 with the lug. 29 and by means of the adjusting screws 33 which limit the-movement of the lug 2c in a. I

counterclockwise direction about its path.

In order to move the table fromthe dotted line position to the full line position and vice versa, I

provide a lever 35 pivoted at 36 to' the base of the machine. Thislever 35 has an operating handle portion 37 and. carries an-upwardly extending projection 38 adaptedto slide within the longitudinal slot 39 formed in the boss 40 on the underside of, the table 22. Therefore it will be 1 :seen that as the handle 35"is1moved'about its :pivot, the, tablewill, bemoved longitudinally of the guiderods.19 from either anoperative to .aninoperative position or from an inoperative to an operative positiondependingupon the direct I t 1324,0136 l r tion of rotationfof the lever:35'. Since'it' is only desired that the tableoccupy either oneotthe two, ':extreme positibns, I provide 'meansior holding the lever 35. ineither 01': its extreme limiting positions. This means comprises the telescoping members 41' and 42, the former being pivoted at 43- to an extension 44 integral. with the bearing .for thelever 35-.and the latter. being pivoted atl46 Ito the base of the machine. 'Aspring 45 arranged within two telescoping members 41 and. 42 normally urges: the members longitudinally away from each other,so.as' to increase the distancebe+ tween their. pivotal connections with the levera'nd baseyrespectively. The pivots 36,543 and 46 are so arranged that when theplever i'sj'in the f ull' jline 1 position, shownin Fig. 2, the .pivot 43 is arranged along one side of the linebetwee'n the pivots 36 'tion whichit occupies when the table in its operative position, thepivot 43.-will lie along the other side of the line between the pivots 36 and 46, thereby holding the-table in its operative or inope'rative position as the casefmay be. 1 -It will be 'seentrom the arrangement just"described that when the table isin' fulllineaposition, shown in Fig.1, the plate 32 will be 'arranged substantially at right'an'glesto the .table 22 and the substance ma be placed on the table with its "forward edge against the'plate 32 and clamped in' this position. Thereafter the lever 35 may be,

operated so asto move ,thet'ableto the dotted line position, shown in Fig." 1', to po'sitio'ntlie substance with its forwardvedge' inlthe cutting,

plane of the knife. As the table moves to its dotted line position,the stop 30 movestherewith and permits the arm 28to rotate in a clockwise direction about its pivot, thereby permittingthe plate- 32 to drop into an inoperativeposition beneath the table 22 inthe manner best illustratedjin Fig. 1 the plate 32 striking against the stop-47 formed by the opening in the front part ofithe frame. If desired any other suitable stop 'may be'used forthis purpose.

1 Itwill be understood that the term operative position or itsrequivalent means theposition of the support adjacent the'cutting plane 'of-r'the knife which the support occupieswhen the sub stance is being sliced; fwhile theterm inoperative position means the position which the support occupies when the substanceis being' placed thereon for slicing purposes, and-it is to be fur ther understood that this latter position is 'a sition in which the substance itself. is not in o.

position to be sliced but necessitates themovement' of the supportto a position adjacent the it cutting 'plane before the substance can besliced. I wishto have it understood thatif-des'ired the plate 32 maybe moved into position mm;- the side. of as well as below the table 22 and Ifdo not wish to limit the scope of my-jinvention to a plate which is pivotedas it'can'be rea'dily se eh that the plate may. be :slid into position by ax rectilinealinovement withlof withoiit othef- 'itgip of movement which maybe desired-withoutde' parting from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appended claims. 1 Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changesf in I the details and arrangement of "parts shown herein-without departing from-the scope ofth invention as defined byv the claims hereto ;appended and I wish, therefore; not'tobe'r'stricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

.Having' thus' run disclosed the embodiment of my. invention what Iv desire'ito secure Letters- Patent- 01' the Uriited statesisfi 1 frame, 01 a slicing knifepivotallylsupported on 1 said frame; a carriage mounted for 'jreciprocation onsaid frame and adapted to occupy. a position adjacentithe cuttingplanetof said knife-and also a position remote therefrom,r'a plate pivotedto said frame, andicooperating'means'connected'to f j said plate; and table for moving said. plate into operative positionadjacent andqabove. one edge of said carriage as said carriage is moved to :said 585 remoteposition, and"' means.-forautomatically "moving said plateinto: an inoperative position out: of thepath of movement of -jsaid table when said-table is moved. to itslpo'sition' adjacent said cutting plane.

2. Ina slicing machine, combinatioIr with a substancesupport and a slicingiknife movablerelative'to ,each: other, said substance support being also movable. toward and away. fromthe cutting plane 'ofgsaidknifesothata substance maybe located on said support while. awayfrom the cutting 1.2m a'slicingmachinethe combination wit a -plane of said knife, andgaugingmeans adapted to,

be, automatically moved;- into operative, position relative to, one edgeof said a; support when said support is moved to a position away from its operative position adjacent the cutting plane of said knife; said means for moving said gauge plate to operative position'comprising'coeoperating abutments on said supportandgau'ge plate which en gage each other as saidsupport moves to its position away from said cutting plane." 1 3 In a slicing machine, the'combinationlwith a slicingknife :and a substance support movable relative to each other; to cutslices from aTs'ub- ,stance located on said support, said support being also movable away from the cutting plane of said knife to an inoperativeposition, a gauge mounted for'movement to and froma positionbeneathsaid support while said support is-in its operative position'adjacent the cutting plane of said knife, and

means formo'ving said gauge plate into operative position adjacentthe edge of's'aid support when 1 said support is moved to its inoperativeiposition,

saidgauging plate havingan operative connection withsaid support operableupon movementof said vZsupport to operative position adjacent the cutting plane of said knife for automatically moving-said gauge plate toinoperative position below the sub a stance support. a

4. A device, as claimed in ,claim 3 in which means areprovided for moving said support to its operother:ofsaidpositionsp.

,5 5. In ;a slicing machine; the) combination .with

I a frainaof'aknite movable-relative to said frame, .guides on'said frame, asupport mountedonsaid guidesfor movement toward and away from the cutting; plane of said knife, .alever operatively i connected to saidsupportfor moving saidjsupport to .a position. adjacent the cutting' planaof said ative-or inoperative'position and in which means I is provided for movinggsaidsupport to oneorthe',

:knife and to :a position. remotezther'efrom, means for limiting" the movement of said support in a r direction;- towards the cutting plane of *said 3 knife and also infa direction away. fromthe cutting plane of said knife; a springifor, holding said I support against either, one-or the'otherj o fisaid limiting means, a gauge platemountedfor movement intouanio'perative position at one edge of said support when.said supportgisxat its position'r'er'note from thecuttingplane'of saidknife so that'a substance may beilocated onsaidsup- .port'by. meansof saidgaugc plate andin the same positionon said siuppor't as it is desiredto have the substance occupy when. the supisdr't' is at "its operative position [adjacent the cutting plane of. said knife; and means for moving said gauge plate into said position when said support is at its remote position. 1 v: s

6. Adevice asclaimed in claim '5 in which the gauge plate is operatively connected to said support. for automatic movement into-a'position ad- 'jacentthe edge of said support when said support ismoved to its inoperative, position and for automatic movement to an inoperative position when saidsupport is moved to its operative po- 'sition.. F: j -.e 7. In a slicing machine,'the combination with a stationary frame, of a knife movable relative to said frame, guides extending in a direction transverse tothe cutting plane of said knife, an under table slidably mounted on said guides, a stop for limitingthe .movement of said under htable ina direction toward the'cutting plane of said. knife, a'gauge plate movably mounted on said frame, an arm operatively connected to said plate, an abutment .on said under table adapted to engage said arm as said under table is moved away from the cutting. plane of said" knife, the

engagement of' said abutment with said arm causing said gauge plate to move to'a position. adjacent that edge of said under table which lies.

adjacent'the cutting plane ofsaid knife when said undertable is in its operative position adjacent said cutting plane, and a stop for limiting the movement of said gauge plate and for also limiting the movement of said under table ma 1 direction away from the cutting plane of said 8. A. device as claimedin claim '7 in which ,means is provided for maintaining saidunder table: at its extreme.positions adjacent the cutting plane of said knife and remote therefrom.

9. Aidevice as claimed in claim-7 in'which a feed table is provided, on said under table and cutting plane.

10.-A slicing machine comprisingla slicing knife, al'table 'mounted for movement to and from an operative position adjacent the cutting plane of saidknife and a pivoted plate movable into a position adjacent: one edge of said support when said support is away fromthe cutting plane of said knife" to form anabutment fadja cent thatedg'e', said abutment acting as a gauge plate for "positioning the substance inpredetera mindrelation on said support, and operative connections between "said plate and table for moving said plate into an inoperative-position as the latter moves toward said cutting plane.

11.-A slicing machinecomprising a slicing knife, a support mountedfor movement to a plurality of positions of adjustment, one of which is adjacent the cutting plane of said knife and another of which-is remote from said plane, and anabutment plate'operatively connectedito said table to 'move automatically, due to said oper ative connections into an operative predeterinined substance locating position adjacent to and above said support while said support is in said last mentioned position and to move auto- -matically-into inoperative position clear, of said slicingknife and the operative substance receiving spaceabfove said support when said. support is moved to: the otherof said positions.-

,12. A slicing .machine comprising a slicing.

knife, a support mounted for-movement to a pluralityxof positions of adjustment, one of which is adjacent, the cutting plane of said knife, and another of which is remotefrom said plane, and a pivoted abutment plate operatively connected to said table-to move automatically, due to said operative connections into an operative prede-'- termined substance locating position adjacent to and abovesaid support: whilesaidsupportis in said last mentionedposition-and to move automatically. into inoperative position clear of said slicing knife and, the" operative substance receiving space above said support, when said support is moved to the other-of said positions. 7 a 1 :13. A. slicing machine. comprising ;a table,

means for supporting the table for reciprocating movement a slicing knife, means for'moving said table intoaposition adjacent the cutting plane -of said knife, .a plate mounted for movementinrto operative pos'itionrelative to said table for locating a substance on saidtable; in a predetermined position thereon while said table is away from said ,Jcutting plane, said plate being movableinto a position" underneath said table when said table is. moved to its position adjacentsaid knife,- and means for moving said plate to either of said positions.

l4. A slicing machine comprising [a table,

means for supporting the table, for reciprocating movement, -a slicing knife, means for moving said tableinto ajposition adjacent the cutting plane of said-knife, apivoted' plate mounted 'for movement into operative position relative to said table for locating afsubstance on saidv table-in a predetermined; position. thereon while said table is away from said-knife, said plate being mounted for movement into a position underneath said table when said tableismoved to its position adjacent said knife, and ,meansfor moving said plate to said position.

' 1 1 5. A. slicing machine comprising a table 'mountedfor reciprocating movement to "and from an operative position, a slicingknife, pivoted armsacarryingga positioning. plate,-- a 'stop on said table, a projectionon one of said arms,

said stop having apath of movement suchasto' engage-said projectionwhen said table is moved plate when engaged by said projection 'll'ltoifal'l .operativeposition adjacent to and above oneedge ofsaid table, anda limitingstop for limiting the movement of said plate into operative. position.

to the position in-which the substance is 'to be .placedthereon and being operative to move said 1 6.;A slicing machine comprising a table mounteddor reciprocating movement, to and oted arms carrying apositioning plate; 'a'stop on from anoperatjlve position, a slicing knife, pivsaid table, aprojection-onone of said arms, said 1 placed thereon andrbeing operative to move said plate whenengaged by said projection into-an stop having a path of movement such as to engage Q said projection when said table is moved ,to the positioninwhic'h the substance is to be operative position adjacent to and above one edgeof said "table, and an adjustablestop for limiting the movement of saidplate into operative position.

17, In a slicing machine,: the' combination with a substance; support and a slicing knife movable relative to each other to cut slices from :a substance on {said,support, guides for guiding said support towardsandfrom -the cutting plane of said knife, a gauge plate movable automatically to operative position adjacent one edge .of said support as said support} moves away from said cutting plane, said operative position being .ad-.

jacent that edge of the support which is normally adjacent the cutting planeof the knife when said support is in operative position adjacent said knife, and said gauge plate'when in opera "support as that edge bears to the cutting plane of said knife when said support is in its operative position, whereby ,oneside of the substance tive position having one surface. thereof located in the same relation to the adjacent edge of said cent the cutting plane of the knife thatside of the substance will lie in said cutting plane, said plate'being so mounted and connected to said" support as to move automatically to a position below said support as said support'moves into operative position froman inoperative position and being substantially entirely arranged on the same side of said cutting plane as said substance support when said plate is sition.

a slicing, knife and a substance support movin an inoperative po- '18. In a slicing machine} the combination with;

able relativeto eachfother tocutslicesfrom; a

substance located on said support, said support being also movable awayfrom'the' cutting plane 'of saidknife to an inoperative position; and a gaugeplate mounted .formovement to a position beneath said support {while said support is in its-operative position adjacentthe cuttingplane of said knife}- and for inovernentwhensaid support is at its position away from said 1 cutting plane to a position'adjacent that edge of said support which is adjacent the cutting plane of said knifewhen said support is adjacent said'cut ting plane,v said gauge plate. being operatively connected to said support for automaticfi-movem'ent'into an inoperative position below the substance support when said substance support is moved to its operative positionadjacentthe cutting "plane of said knife.

WILHELMUS ADRIANUS vAN'BERKELQ y 

